WANDERER 002 | Where to shop in Milan

I’ve lived in Milan for almost a year and for a fashion addicted, this city has got a lot to offer to a fashionista. So dear reader, if you’re traveling and think of stopping by in Milan, this fashion guide will help you.

oh mia bela madunina

I will divide the city in several areas according to the different types of style you could find.

Let’s start with Via Vigevano where you could find vintage shops on the right side of the street + That’s Bakery + Peter Pan Bakery (Pan-e means bread in Italian). Keep walking until Porta Ticinese where you have a nice arch and more importantly The Bager Factory (yummy!). I know I am advising you almost only food shops but I am Italian, remember?(;

Keep walking through Corso di Porta Ticinese (picture above), amazing street for unconventional labels and shops (Vans – Stussy – Dictionary Milano). You can seriously find original handmade bargain here. Then, before crossing the street to Colonne di San Lorenzo, on the left in Via De Amicis you have Cupcake Couture near a hair salon. Crossing the street to Colonne you may find: American Apparel, Scout and shoes shops everywhere. On the left, in Via Mora you find Titto for amazing ice creams and my favorite shop: Groupies for vintage clothes.

Mainstream shopping > Via TorinoMetro stop: Duomo

Either you keep walking from Colonne or get out of the subway at Duomo, you will find Via Torino. Here you have the main main main low-cost companies:

– Delicatessen, South Tirol food (via delle Asole, on the left from Colonne)

– Ladurée (Via Spadari, on the left from Colonne)

Shopping centre > Duomo e Galleria Vittorio EmanueleMetro stop: DuomoNow you are in front of the Duomo, you can take millions of pictures, go to the museums and wander around Galleria Vittorio Emanuele (pic above) where you can find the being Italian brand such as Versace, Gucci, Prada, Borsalino and international ones as Church. On the left side of the Duomo you have the biggest shopping mall of Milan: La Rinascente, six or seven floors of any luxury brand.Annex by La Rinascente is placed near the major building and it has a more edgy style and now there is Urban Outfitters there (still very Italian though – but at least it’s a start)!!

Keep walking from the Duomo and you’ll have this big pedestrian street called Corso Vittorio Emanuele (pic above) with tons of flags – every time of the year not only now due to the Expo – with shops on every side.

Then you arrive in Piazza S.Babila, there is a fountain, Zara Home, COS, Subdued, Nespresso and 12 Brian&Berry building that looks like a mini New York. 12 floors of shopping and food.

Cultural area > Cairoli Castle Metro stop: Cairoli

Here you have the castle Castello Sforzesco (pic above) and behind a great park, Parco Sempione. On the other side you arrive to the Duomo and you could find some shops as: ALDO shoes, Kielhs, LUSH, Decathlon and many more. It’s worth a tour if you want some fresh air and enjoy the old Milan history.

For every fashionista Via Montenapoleone and Via della Spiga are the most popular streets of Milan. Think of Bond Street in London, 5th Avenue in NYC and Les Champs Elysees in Paris. So you wouldn’t be surprised to leave your heart here. Let’s start with the bigger one, Via Montenapoleone with Gucci, Versace, Armani, Dior, Ralph Lauren, Burberry, Sergio Rossi and more. In my opinion, you’ll have the much nicer and less chaotic Via della Spiga and all the streets nearby (pic above, Lanvin) where you have Dolce&Gabbana, Miu Miu, Tods and so on. Windows shopping could be therapeutical sometimes and the architecture here is really nice, so simply take a walk leaving your wallet home(;

the artistic area > BreraMetro stop: Lanza

Another favorite place of mine is Brera (pic above) with its pavé and the old appearance of the district; another world from the cold posh Milan. It is the artistic area because you will see tons of artists (fortune-tellers too) walking around. Accademia di Brera is there and so everyone satellites towards the area. You have pretty high names of fashion such as Gucci, Marc Jacobs, Ash and other smaller shops. Getting lost there (even if it’s impossible) is really nice. Near by you have Corso Garibaldi which is another lovely street with some shops and a great old bicycle shop called Rossignoli Milano. Because yes, you could also see Milan by bike.

There are also other areas like Porta Venezia and Corso Buenos Aires but the shops are always the same so I choose to write about my favorite.

Have you ever been to Milan? If not, what is the area that most fascinates you? let me know.If you wanna have more information I’ll try my best to answer you(: